FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
EUGENE, Ore. – After a thrilling run to the NCAA Regionals last spring, Oregon is already looking forward to next year with the release of its 2011 schedule today.
The Ducks have 60 games on the schedule, with 30 of those contests to be played at PK Park.
UO’s schedule is daunting with nine series against programs that advanced to the postseason in 2010, including three teams that claimed their respective conference titles.
Similar to last year, Oregon will cross the Pacific Ocean and head to Honolulu for a four-game series with the defending Western Athletic Conference Tournament champion Hawai’i Rainbows from Feb. 18-20.
The Ducks will play their home opener on Friday, Feb. 25 when St. Mary’s comes to Eugene for a three-game series. Oregon played its first game in 28 years against the Gaels on Feb. 20, 2009, prevailing 5-3 in Moraga, Calif.
Non-conference road series also include Long Beach State (March 4-6) and West Coast Conference champion San Diego (March 19-21).
Visiting PK Park in the non-conference will be BYU (March 10-12) and perennial powerhouse Wichita State (March 25-27). The Shockers have made 27 NCAA appearances since 1980 and have advanced to the College World Series on seven occasions.
After the four-game series with Wichita State, Oregon will open Pac-10 play against four-time defending conference champion Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz. (April 1-3).
The Ducks’ Pac-10 home opener will bring in Northwest rival Washington (April 8-10). Last season, the Ducks won both the seasons series (3-2) and conference series (2-1) against the Huskies.
Other conference opponents Oregon will face on the road will include USC (April 15-17), California (April 29-May 1) and Washington State (May 20-22).
Visiting completed PK Park for the first time will be Arizona (April 21-23), UCLA (May 6-8) and Stanford (May 13-15).
Oregon and Oregon State will end the regular season playing the Civil War Series at PK Park from May 27-29. In addition, the two in-state foes will play non-conference contests in Corvallis on March 8 and May 3.
Oregon will also play regional rival Portland on four occasions throughout the year; twice in Eugene (March 1 and April 27) and twice in Portland (April 13 and May 24).
Other two-game sets include a home-and-away set with San Francisco (March 23, San Francisco; April 18, PK Park), an away stand at Seattle (May 10-11), and two home games against Gonzaga (May 17-18).
Oregon returns to action in 2011 with Pac-10 All-Conference honorees Tyler Anderson, J.J. Altobelli, Scott McGough, Danny Pulfer and KC Serna.
In addition, Oregon will be welcoming in the 2010 freshman class, which was recently ranked third in the nation by Collegiate Baseball’s annual evaluation on Tuesday. Oregon has 13 newcomers on the roster which consists of 11 true freshmen and two junior college transfers.
The Ducks are currently in their second week of fall practice under third-year head coach George Horton.
Fans interested in 2011 season tickets can click HERE to sign up for more information.
